Scientists at the University of Southampton and Queen?s University Belfast are calling for a $1 billion investment to test quantum mechanics in space.

Writing in Nature, the experts say that combining quantum physics and space could deliver 'truly unforeseen possibilities'. The comment piece encourages the scientific, engineering, industrial and political communities to join forces and make the vision a reality.

Professor Hendrik Ulbricht, of Southampton's School of Physics and Astronomy, says: "It is clear that any new technological developments for space have to be made on the international stage, so a strong multinational consortium has to be formed."

He adds: "The University of Southampton with its expertise in optomechanics, transitioning scientific experiments from the lab to real-world application, and its close links to UK space industries could play a major role in this endeavour."

Researchers want to test ever-larger particles for quantum wave behaviour. Doing this in space removes experimental hurdles seen on Earth, such as gravity and noise, meaning larger particles can remain stable for longer as they develop their quantum behaviour.

Professor Mauro Paternostro, Head of the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's, says: "The scientific legacy of the 20th century is two-fold - on one hand there is quantum mechanics, which has helped us to explain the fundamental principles of the microscopic world. On the other hand, we have the space programme, which has made space exploration a reality.

"If scientists in these two areas were to join together we could deliver truly unforeseen possibilities."

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Physicists from the University of Southampton and ETH Zürich have reached a new threshold of light-matter coupling at the nanoscale.

The international research, published this week in Nature Photonics, combined theoretical and experimental findings to establish a fundamental limitation of our ability to confine and exploit light.

The collaboration focussed on photonic nano-antennas fabricated in ever reducing sizes on the top of a two-dimensional electron gas. The setup is commonly used in laboratories all over the world to explore the effect of intense electromagnetic coupling, taking advantage of the antennas? ability to trap and focus light close to electrons.

Professor Simone De Liberato, Director of the Quantum Theory and Technology group at the University of Southampton, says: "The fabrication of photonic resonators able to focus light in extremely small volumes is proving a key technology which is presently enabling advances in fields as different as material science, optoelectronics, chemistry, quantum technologies, and many others.

"In particular, the focussed light can be made to interact extremely strongly with matter, making electromagnetism non-perturbative. Light can then be used to modify the properties of the materials it interacts with, thus becoming a powerful tool for material science. Light can be effectively woven into novel materials."

Scientists discovered that light could no longer be confined in the system below a critical dimension, of the order of 250nm in the sample under study, when the experiment started exciting propagating plasmons. This caused waves of electrons to move away from the resonator and spill the energy of the photon.

Experiments performed in the group of Professors Jéréme Faist and Giacomo Scalari at ETH Zürich had obtained results that could not be interpreted with state-of-the-art understanding of light-matter coupling. The physicists approached Southampton?s School of Physics and Astronomy, where researchers led theoretical analysis and built a novel theory able to quantitatively reproduce the results.

Professor De Liberato believes the newfound limits could yet be exceeded by future experiments, unlocking dramatic technological advances that hinge on ultra-confined electromagnetic fields.

"It has been said that proofs of impossibility are only proofs of a lack of imagination," he explains. "This is not the first time that a 'fundamental limit' on how tightly we can focus light has been discovered. The most famous is the Abbe diffraction limit, from 19th century German physicist Ernst Abbe, which says light can't be confined in a volume smaller than a cubic wavelength.

"Nanophotonics is a very active and successful field of research that is studying different ways to break out of Abbe limit. I think the next step will be to use some ingenuity and look for novel ways to confine light, bypassing both Abbe limit and the one we have just discovered."

Researchers from the University of Southampton and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology have created a stable giant vortex in a hybrid light-matter system, addressing a longstanding challenge in quantised fluid dynamics.

The findings open possibilities to create unique coherent light sources and explore many-body physics under extreme conditions. The paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.

In fluid dynamics, a vortex is a region where a fluid revolves around a point (2D) or a line (3D); you have seen them when draining a sink or may have felt one in the form of turbulence while flying. The quantum world also has vortices: the flow of a quantum fluid can create a zone where the particles revolve persistently around some point. The prototypical signature of such quantum vortices is their singular phase at the core of the vortex.

Professor Pavlos Lagoudakis, Head of Hybrid Photonics at the University of Southampton, partnered with Skoltech Professor Natalia Berloff and colleagues to study vortices created by polaritons - odd hybrid quantum particles that are half-light (photon) and half-matter (electrons) - forming a quantum fluid under the right conditions.

The scientists were looking for a way to create vortices in these polariton fluids with intense rotation. These vortices, also known as giant vortices, are generally very hard to obtain as they tend to break apart into many smaller vortices with low rotation in other systems.

Creating stable giant vortices shows that non-equilibrium (open) quantum systems, like polariton condensates, can overcome some severe limits of alternatives such as Bose-Einstein condensates of cold atoms. Control over the vorticity of a polariton fluid could open new perspectives on simulation of gravity or black hole dynamics in the microscopic world, and become an important tool for optical data storage, distribution and processing applications.

Professor Lagoudakis, says: "This is a very nice demonstration of how polaritons can provide a very flexible sandbox to probe some of the more complex phenomena of nature. What we have shown here is a system that shares a lot of characteristics with a black hole while still emitting light, much like a 'white hole'."

The researchers had been working on using interacting polariton condensates as candidates to simulate a planar vector model known as the XY model. They realised that when multiple condensates were arranged into a regular polygon with an odd number of vertices, the ground state of the whole system could correspond to a particle current along the polygon edge. By going from a triangle to pentagon, heptagon, and so on, the authors showed that the current rotated faster and faster, forming a giant vortex of varying angular momentum.

Dr Tamsin Cookson, first author and joint Southampton-Skoltech researcher, says: "The formation of stable clockwise, or anticlockwise, polariton currents along the perimeter of our polygons can be thought of as a result of geometric frustration between the condensates. The condensates interact like oscillators that want to be in antiphase with each other. But an odd numbered polygon cannot satisfy this phase relationship because of its rotational symmetry, and therefore the polaritons settle for the next-best-thing which is a rotating current."

Professor Lagoudakis is based at both the University of Southampton’s School of Physics and Astronomy and Skoltech in Moscow, Russia. Other organisations involved in this latest research include the University of Cambridge, and Cardiff University.

A ground-breaking innovation in quantum hardware has secured investment to spin out from the University of Southampton.

Aquark Technologies, launched by former postgraduate research students Dr Andrei Dragomir and Dr Alexander Jantzen, has created a miniaturised cold atom system following years of research.

Unlike modern electronics, which rely on the manipulation of electrons, quantum devices tap into and manipulate the wave-like properties of atoms and tiny changes in their energy levels. These devices use a cold atom chamber in which to manipulate the individual atoms.

Aquark Technologies' key innovation, the Aquark Cube, miniaturises the cold atom chamber by a factor of 100 to make this incredible, complex technology into a simple, portable plug-and-play system.

Andrei's postgraduate research focused on the miniaturisation of quantum systems in the School of Physics and Astronomy before continuing as a Research Fellow in the Quantum, Light and Matter Group. Alex, meanwhile, completed his PhD in optoelectronics focused on maturing early-stage optical technology for commercial use and joined Aquark from another successful Southampton spinout.

Dr Dragomir says: "Quantum technology has for many years offered increased performance over conventional technology, but it has been complicated to achieve and so applications have been limited. Mostly the tech has stayed hidden in research labs around the world; we want to make cold-atoms practical and accessible for wider use.

"By controlling a cloud of atoms at a temperature near absolute zero we can take extremely precise measurements for time, acceleration, gravity and rotation. As such, using this technology we could, for example, create a global navigation system that is accurate without a satellite connection."

Andrei believes the idea could replace bulky, power hungry and complicated sensors that are used regularly in laboratory environments. He adds: "Our core invention is a miniaturised cold atom system that reduces system size from that of an entire lab to the palm of a hand. This huge miniaturisation step will enable the commercialisation of all sensors, accelerating the development and capabilities of quantum technologies. Sensors made with cold atom systems at their core have been shown to significantly surpass their classical counterparts."

Aquark is one of a cohort of the University's most promising startups that unveiled technologies at a Demo Day for the Future Worlds on-campus accelerator on 10th June 2020. The spinout has received investment from angel investors in the Future Worlds network.

James Vernon, Aquark investor and Southampton alumnus, says: "Aquark's unique approach leverages novel research from the University of Southampton with the potential to unlock world-changing opportunities in the quantum market. As investors we are delighted to work with the team on what promises to be a very exciting journey ahead."

Professor Mark Sullivan, Head of Physics and Astronomy, says: "I'm hugely enthusiastic to see our fundamental research in quantum technologies translated into new commercial applications. Southampton's vibrant spirit of entrepreneurship provides an excellent platform to launch successful spinout companies to apply our world leading research to solve ambitious commercial challenges."

Diana Galpin, Director of Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange at the University, says: "It is great to see Aquark Technologies successfully spinout following the recent support from Research and Innovation Services (RIS), Space Research and Innovation Network for Technology (SPRINT), Seraphim Space Camp and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA). Aquark Technologies is a promising company, and its enabling technology is poised to make a significant impact in the commercialisation of quantum technologies. We look forward to Aquark's continued success."

Ben Clark, Director of Future Worlds, says: "The founders pitching at Demo Day addressed some of the biggest challenges and most exciting opportunities in the world. Investors were impressed by the bold visions and world-changing potential they discovered. The investment in Aquark Technologies is an embodiment of the investors' belief in that potential."

Scientists from the University of Southampton have demonstrated an innovative technique that uses fluorescent nanotechnology to identify and enrich skeletal stem cells.

The ground-breaking study, co-led by the School of Physics and Astronomy's Professor Antonios Kanaras, could lead to new treatments for major bone fractures and the repair of lost or damaged bone.

The interdisciplinary research builds upon over 15 years of investigations into bone stem cell based therapies by Professor Richard Oreffo.

The new technique, published this month in the international ACS Nano journal, uses specially designed gold nanoparticles to ‘seek out’ specific human bone stem cells. This creates a fluorescent glow to reveal their presence among other types of cells, allowing them to be isolated or 'enriched'.

The researchers concluded their new technique is simpler and quicker than other methods and up to 50-500 times more effective at enriching stem cells.

Professor Kanaras and colleagues in the Quantum, Light and Matter Research Group are experts in the design of novel nanomaterials and the study of applications in the fields of biomedical sciences and energy.

"The appropriate design of materials is essential for their application in complex systems," he says. "Customizing the chemistry of nanoparticles we are able to program specific functions in their design.

"In this research project, we designed nanoparticles coated with short sequences of DNA, which are able to sense HSPA8 mRNA and Runx2 mRNA in skeletal stem cells and together with advanced FACS gating strategies, to enable the assortment of the relevant cells from human bone marrow.

"An important aspect of the nanomaterial design involves strategies to regulate the density of oligonucleotides on the surface of the nanoparticles, which help to avoid DNA enzymatic degradation in cells. Fluorescent reporters on the oligonucleotides enable us to observe the status of the nanoparticles at different stages of the experiment, ensuring the quality of the endocellular sensor."

Stem cells are cells that are not yet specialised and can develop to perform different functions. Identifying skeletal stems cells allows scientists to grow these cells in defined conditions to enable the growth and formation of bone and cartilage tissue - for example, to help mend broken bones.

Among the challenges posed by our ageing population is the need for novel and cost-effective approaches to bone repair. With one in three women and one in five men at risk of osteoporotic fractures worldwide, the costs are significant, with bone fractures alone costing the European economy €17 billion and the US economy $20 billion annually.

Professor Oreffo says: "Skeletal stem cell based therapies offer some of the most exciting and promising areas for bone disease treatment and bone regenerative medicine for an aging population. The current studies have harnessed unique DNA sequences from targets we believe would enrich the skeletal stem cell and, using Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) we have been able to enrich bone stem cells from patients.

"Identification of unique markers is the holy grail in bone stem cell biology and, while we still have some way to go; these studies offer a step change in our ability to target and identify human bone stem cells and the exciting therapeutic potential therein.

"Importantly, these studies show the advantages of interdisciplinary research to address a challenging problem with state of the art molecular/cell biology combined with nanomaterials’ chemistry platform technologies."

This latest research, which was advanced through a joint BBSRC project grant to Professor Oreffo and Professor Kanaras, was supported by experienced research fellows and PhD students as well as collaboration with Professor Tom Brown and Dr Afaf E-Sagheer of the University of Oxford.

The scientists are currently applying single cell RNA sequencing to the platform technology developed with partners in Oxford and the Institute for Life Sciences (IfLS) at Southampton to further refine and enrich bone stem cells and assess functionality. The team propose to then move to clinical application with preclinical bone formation studies to generate proof of concept studies.

Professor Anne Tropper has been presented the 2021 SPIE Maiman Laser Award for pioneering contributions during a dynamic research career at the University of Southampton.

The prestigious honour from the international society for optics and photonics recognises the physicist's key advancements in rare-earth doped fibre and optically pumped semiconductor lasers.

Anne is a founding member of the Optoelectronics Research Centre at Southampton, one of the world's leading institutes for photonics research, and served as head of the Quantum, Light and Matter group between 2007 and 2012.

She has been based at the University of Southampton since 1983 and maintains this longstanding connection today as an Emeritus Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Anne says: "I am deeply honoured to receive this prize named after Theodore Maiman, creator of the first working laser. It is a testament to the vision of the individuals in Physics and Astronomy who set up the Laser Physics Group and gave so much support and encouragement to my endeavours.

"My original realisation of lasers constructed not around optical rods but optical fibres, embodying a paradigm shift that transformed every aspect of the physics and engineering of these light sources. As a result, we have lasers and amplifiers that are sturdy, energy-efficient, broad-band and spectrally versatile, with transformative impact in technologies ranging from data communications to surgery to industrial production."

The Southampton professor's influence in optical physics over the past 40 years has touched the work of many groups in fields that include fibre lasers and amplifiers, upconversion lasers, spin dynamics in semiconductors, and ultrafast semiconductor laser physics.

She was the first to demonstrate the ytterbium silica fibre laser and highlight the unique potential of this system for efficient high-power operation, a discovery that today forms the basis of the high-power fibre laser market for industrial manufacturing.

New fibre lasers first reported by her group at Southampton include thulium and holmium silica in the mid-infrared, and infrared-pumped visible lasers based on praseodymium-doped fluoride glass.

The SPIE Maiman Laser Award is named in honour of Theodore Maiman, an American physicist and engineer who is widely credited with the invention of the laser. The honour was established in 2020 and recognises sustained contributions to laser source science and technology at the highest levels.

SPIE's 2021 society awards have been announced this month for 21 distinguished recipients whose achievements span a wide range of light-based sciences and key advancements made by these technologies in areas including medicine, astronomy, lithography and optical metrology.

Physicists at the University of Southampton are studying molecular vibrations that could shine new light on how plants convert sunlight into energy.

An experimental group, led by Dr Luca Sapienza, is investigating how photosynthetic organisms exploit mechanical vibrations in energy transfer processes.

The new research could help scientists reverse engineer the natural processes to realise new devices with enhanced energy capture and transfer capabilities.

Plants, algae and some bacteria rely on nano-scale molecular complexes to absorb sunlight and trigger the chemical energy conversion that sustains life processes on Earth.

These complexes are thought to benefit from molecular vibrations, but exactly how these affect the efficiency, directionality and quantum properties of energy dynamics is yet to be fully understood.

To gain this understanding, Southampton researchers are investigating how bio-molecules transfer energy within the controlled vibrational environment provided by opto-mechanical on-chip devices, where sunlight is replaced by excitation laser sources.

Dr Sapienza, of the Quantum, Light and Matter research group, says: "By investigating bio-molecules embedded within nano-fabricated devices that can control mechanical vibrations, this research will shine new light onto the microscopic processes that control energy dynamics at the molecular scale."

Within photosynthetic complexes, precisely arranged chromophores are bound to a protein scaffold and the absorption of light leads to the formation of collective electronic states, called excitons. The associated electronic energy is distributed and transferred to lower energy states at a pico-second rate.

There is mounting experimental and theoretical evidence that a sophisticated interplay between electronic and vibrational dynamics underpins the efficiency of the process.

"This line of thought has led to the counterintuitive idea that phonon-assisted processes, resulting from the coupling of biomolecules to their vibrational environment, rather than being detrimental, can actually improve the efficiency and directionality of the energy transfer and can sustain quantum coherent processes," Dr Sapienza says.

"The leading hypothesis to explain the mechanism at the basis of how these systems function is the presence of coherent vibronic interactions, whereby specific vibrational motions are driven out of thermal equilibrium to form exciton vibrational quantum states. The interpretation of how such process occurs, however, remains still controversial."

The latest research, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will use on-chip opto-mechanical devices, developed for semiconductor technology, as a new platform to control the phononic environment of photo-active biomolecules.

The devices are designed to control the amplitude of specific vibrational frequencies involved in photosynthetic processes. By characterising the emission dynamics and correlations of the photons emitted by the biomolecules, the research team will investigate the influence of the phononic environment.

Dr Sapienza says: "While opto-mechanics is a well-established research area, with great potential in metrology and force-sensing applications, the integration of biomolecules within phononic membranes is an exciting and completely novel field."

"The realisation of this platform opens the path to reverse-engineering biological architectures, that have been optimised by evolution over billions of years, to develop hybrid biomechanical units exploiting coherence to enhance the harvesting and transfer of energy."

Dr Sapienza is one of three academics from the University of Southampton awarded a total of £600,000 from the EPSRC New Horizons call; a programme aimed at high-risk discovery research focused on advancing knowledge and securing the pipeline of next-generation innovations.

Professor Jonathan Essex is investigating molecular simulations, which are an essential tool in the design of new drugs, while Dr Alain Zemkoho is exploring 'pessimistic bilevel optimisation' problems between various engineering, economic and human systems.